QuestionQUESTION: All of the lights, be it the head lights/tail lights, instrument panel lights, door or dome lights are flickering. We mostly notice this at night. Even the daytime running headlights flicker when the car is in drive. The car starts and runs great, no engine trouble. No known problems with charging, never needed to be jumped or had any alternator trouble. The battery has been replaced, and new battery cables were also installed, connections are good. There is a sound from under the hood that corresponds with the flickering when the car is running, its soft and one has to listen closely. I'm not sure whether its a voltage regulator, alternator or some other part.
ANSWER: you would need to put an ANALOG (old style) meter with the needle so you can attach it to the battery and see if the voltage changes as the lights flicker.
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QUESTION: Attached an analog meter and the needle did move to the rhythm of the flickering lights. However,it moved only the width of the needle, maybe a millimeter. The flickering/needle movement is rapid, maybe two flickers per second. It doesn't seem to stop or pause, it tends to be constant.
ANSWER: You need to check for tightness and or corrosion of all the BLACK wires that are attached to the engine block and to the fenders as well as the fireawll to make sure they are all clean and tight.
I would suggest adding an additional heavy ground wire from the engine to the firewall and let me know if you found any loose ground wires or corroded ground wires and or if the extra ground wire resolved your problem.
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QUESTION: I checked the connections at the block and firewall, all are good, the negative cable is new going to the block and front fender area. I put a new ground wire from the battery negative to the firewall. I also checked the positive side, all looks well. All lights still pulsating!
AnswerOK, Now that we know tht the GROUNDS are OK, We can put our attention to the alternator. The alternator needs to be tested under a load situation to verify that it is an internal fault.
having it tested at an auto parts store will NOT be testing it under a load condition.
If you are mechanicaly inclined or know of someone who is, You will need a DIGITAL MULTIMETER, Simple electrical schematics, Test procedures and picture locations of the components within the system that is causing you problems of which can't be done on this website which only allows one picture. I do not have a website so you will have to e-mail: onlineautohelp@msn.com in order to obtain the information.
